NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Wanda Kelker of
the Food and Drug Administration’s
Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling
and Dietary Supplements will headline an
informative group of speakers at the Low
Carb Manufacturers Alliance’s marketing
conference, April 15 in Chicago, co-sponsored
by Progressive Grocer and Low Carb Energy.

In
addition to a discussion on the FDA’s
current thinking on carb claims, labeling
and enforcement, the conference will feature
other experts in low-carb marketing: Matt
Wiant, Chief Marketing Officer, Atkins Nutritionals,
discusses building and maintaining the low-carb
category.

Alison Kretser, MS, RD, Director of Nutrition
and Scientific Policy, Grocery Manufacturers
of America discusses the need for clear,
consistent labeling standards as an important
reference point for consumers searching
for foods to help achieve their dietary
objectives.

Larry Shiman, Director, Opinion Dynamics,
explains why low-carb diets are far more
than the typical diet fad, and why they
aren't going away any time soon. He’ll
discuss his recent survey – one of
the largest conducted on low-carb lifestyles
– which found that 24 million American
adults are on low-carb diets and another
44 million will “go low carb”
in the next two years.

“This will be the most informative,
focused opportunity to-date for anyone and
everyone involved in the low-carb arena
to come together to learn and share best
practices,” says Kyle Cox, Publisher,
Low Carb Energy magazine. Cox will moderate
a panel of leading advertising agency executives
discussing marketing and advertising trends
and techniques that work (and don’t
work) for low-carb products.
For more information on the LCMA and its
April 15 marketing conference, including
a full list of speakers and a registration
form, visit www.lowcarbma.org.

01.15.2004
Low Carb Manufacturers Alliance Announces
April Conference

NORTHBROOK, Ill. – With
the start of the new year comes the season
of new year’s diets, and no two words
are more prevalent than low carb. Mindful
of Americas’ escalating obsession
with low-carb diets, manufacturers are creating
a multitude of new and modified low-carb
products to serve consumer demand.

The Low Carb Manufacturers Alliance (LCMA),
a new organization created for major brands
servicing the low-carb lifestyle, will hold
a conference April 15, 2004 in Rosemont,
Illinois to hear from industry leaders on
the future of the low-carb trend.

“The
Low Carb Manufacturers Alliance and its
upcoming conference will play an important
role in bringing together brands that have
always stood for quality, but now are also
becoming brands that are ideal for low-carb
lifestyles,” said Jeff Johnson,
Director of Marketing, No Name Steaks, and
a member of the LCMA Advisory Panel.

“What sets the LCMA apart is its
focus on established Brands, working in
the best interest of the consumer’s
long-term health,” said Paul
Stitt, Founder of Natural Ovens Bakery and
an LCMA Advisory Panel member. Stitt’s
company, with a new line of low-carb bread
products and a healthful heritage, saw a
63 percent sales growth in 2003.

“We've
already seen an explosion of interest in
low-carb products and the signs are that
2004 will be a banner year in the category,"
said Tom Weir, Editor-in-Chief, Progressive
Grocer magazine, a co-sponsor of the LCMA's
April 15 conference.

In
fact, a recent survey conducted by SupermarketGuru.com,
and published in Progressive Grocer, found
that 80 percent of shoppers place a high
value on brands, saying “familiarity
with the company” is “very”
or “somewhat” important
when making food purchases. SupermarketGuru.com
also found that 74 percent of American consumers
surveyed were on low-carb diets.

The
one-day conference will bring together major
brands for the first time, to share best
practices and lessons learned as pioneers
in the growing low-carb arena. To register
for the April 15 conference, click
HERE.

The
Low Carb Manufacturers Alliance provides research,
education and public affairs on behalf of nationally-established
manufacturers, distributors and marketers of
low-carb products. The LCMA is the premier source
of information and services for established
brands that want to maintain a competitive advantage
in the growing low-carb industry.